Integrated Census
The population and housing censuses conducted in the past in Israel were "traditional censuses". In these censuses information was gathered on questionnaires by enumerators who visited the homes of the residents. In several countries in the world they have begun conducting "administrative censuses", in which information is collected from various organizations in which it is stored in computerized form for ongoing administrative needs.
The integrated census is based on an integrated use (hence its name) of data from administrative sources, together with sample data gathered in surveys, i.e., in the census field work. The field work, which includes enumeration in the field and completion of the information by telephone, is called the Population Census Survey; it began at the end of 2008 and was concluded in July, 2009.
The goals of the integrated census have remained similar to those of the traditional census: to provide demographic, social and economic information, updated to the census day for the entire population of the country, detailed enough to make it possible to characterize sectors and geographic areas as small as possible. The main difference is the means and technology used in order to collect the information.
Hebrew only
Preparations for the 2008 Integrated Census
As preparation for the "Integrated Census", which was conducted at the end of 2008, a series of trials and tests was carried out, with the purpose of trying out the census procedure and observing it in a variety of types of localities in the country. In this framework, three trials were conducted in 2002, 2004 and 2006.
2006 Population Survey
2004 Population Survey
2002 Population Survey
Field work
In preparation for the population census survey, the census headquarters recruited approximately 2,500 workers for various positions. Recruitment was done gradually, beginning with the managerial staff and ending with the enumerators, who conducted the actual census in the homes of residents.
Worker recruitment was performed nationally, in accordance with the location of the 12 Regional offices, which were established throughout the country.
Structure of the Regional Offices |
Regional Offices
The Census Questionnaire:
The questionnaire is the central tool for collecting information on the population in the population survey of the integrated census. The questionnaire in the 2008 census is computerized, and includes personal details such as age, sex, and marital status and socio-economic subjects such as education, daily functioning, work, housing conditions and household income.
The subjects of the 2008 census questionnaire were chosen for their similarity to previous censuses, in order to make it possible to compare data collected in the past. Construction of the questionnaire was based on the UN recommendations on subject choices, in order to make it possible to compare with other countries in the world. In addition, the needs of those using census data and products were considered.
The Census Law
The Census Order or The Statistics Order (Population Census) - 2007 was issued in accordance with the Statistics Ordinance (New Version) - 1972, according to which the Central Bureau of Statistics operates, and with the signature of the then Prime Minister, Mr. Ehud Olmert.
The Census Order determines the period of the census, the range of the census, the authority of the census statistician, the subjects of the census, who will reply to the census questionnaires, etc.
The Census Order is issued in accordance with Chapter 6 of the Statistics Ordinance, which determines that:
(a) The Prime Minister may, in consultation with the Statistician and the Council, direct by order
that a census of the population or of part thereof be taken in the State or in part thereof.
(b) The census order shall prescribe the date of the census, the subjects to be included in the
questionnaires, the persons of whom a census shall be taken, the persons who shall answer
the questionnaires and any other matter the Prime Minister may see fit to prescribe for the
efficient carrying out of the census.
Due to the Operation Cast Lead military campaign,the Census Ordinance was amended and
the census period was extended till 6.3.09.
The Census Order The Statistics Ordinance Amendment to the Census Ordinance (Hebrew Only)
